Coal-handling apparatus



Dec. 2, 1930. H. H. ISRAEL ET AL COAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 26, 1927 2. SheetsShee-t 1 11v VENTOR-i'.

A TTIORNE Y H. H. ISRAEL ET AL 1,733,619

COAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 26, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 2, 1930.

[N VENTOR6.

A TTORNEY Patented Dec. 2, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFie HENRY HOWELL ISRAEL, OF LANSFORD, AND GEORGE TRUSSA, OF NESQUEHONING,

PENN SYLVA NIA ooAL-HAnnr rne- APPARATUS Application filed November 26, 1927. Serial No. 235,787.

Our invention relates broadly to apparatus for handling coal or other like material, but more specifically it has relation to means for receiving the coal after it has been jigged or washed and transferring or conveying the same from the washing apparatus.

The general object of the invention is to provide means of novel construction to receive the coal as it is discharged from the jig pan or other washing means and convey it therefrom in a manner to prevent breakage thereof and thereby prevent wastage.

It also is an object of the invention to provide a novel construction of means for receiving the coal as it is discharged from a jig pan or other like washing means comprising a reciprocating plunger associated with means whereby the coal may be delivered continuously to the said means but intermittently discharged therefrom.

To these and other ends the invention comprehends the, construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described in detail, particularly pointed out'in the claims, and

' as illustrated in the drawings in which we have shown one form of a convenient-embodiment of the invention. However, it will be understood that the invention is susceptible of embodiment in other forms of construction than that shown and that changes in the details of construction may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the said invention.

In the drawings 1 Fig. 1 is a view in sectional elevation of a portion ofa coal washing apparatus and of the means embodying the invention associated therewith for receiving the coal from the jig pan after it has been washed and conveying it therefrom;

Fig. 2 is a similar view but with certain of the parts shown in different positions from those in which they are shown in Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a plan view taken alongthe line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4. is a view in vertical longitudinal section of a fragmentary portion ofthe structui'e enlarged to show more clearly'certain details of construction;

Fig. '5Tisa transverse. sectional view ta-ke on the line 55 of Fig. 1, portions of the structure shown in Fig. 1 being omitted; V

Flg. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6 -6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 77, of Fig. l; r V

Fig. 8 isa transverse sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1; and

F igs..9 and 10 are plan-views of portions of the structure showing more clearly certain details of construction.

I I In the drawings wehave shown at l a portion of a tank and also a portion of a jig pan 2 mounted therein and adapted to be operated in known manner. The tank is supported int-he frame structure aportlon of which is shown in F lgs. land 2 of the drawings. The

of may flow in a reverse direction through the said plate. The plunger is supported between the side walls 7 and 8 provided with sheet metal linings 9 and 10, and also upon a bottom wall 11 provided with a sheet metal lining 12. The plunger is provided with blocks 15 at the four corners of the upper end thereof which blocks are provided respectively with notches as indicated at 17, which notches are adapted to engage guides 18 mounted upon the opposite sides 7 and 8 and continued along and upon brackets, to be hereinafter described, and upon channel members 20, the Webs of which face inwardly as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings. The inner surfaces of these channels are flush with or in the same plane as the inner surfaces of the sheet metal linings 9 and 10, to which reference has been made previously, and also with the inner surfaces of the brackets referred to. As the plunger is reciprocated in a manner to be hereinafter described it is guided in its movements by the guides 18.

Oppositely disposed parallel side plates 21 areconnected at their rear ends to the front i d of the plunger previously referred to.

The rear ends of these side plates terminate at 22, as shown in the drawings, and each of the said plates is provided with a slot 23 located centrally and extending longitudinally from the rear or outer end toward the inner end thereof. crosswise extending plates 24; and 25 are secured at their opposite ends to the upper and lower edges of the rear portions of the said plates 21.

It will be noted that the bottom 11 and its sheet metal lining 12 extend rearwardly a considerable distance as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, and as hereinafter will be pointed out the coal when it is carried upwardly by an upward and rearward movement of the plunger will be discharged over the upper rear edge of the said bottom. Channel bars 26 and 27 are connected at their forward ends, as indicated at 28 and 29, to the plates 24 and 25. Crosswise extending bars or narrow plates 30 and 31 are secured to the bottom and upper sides of the respective channels 26 and 27. At their opposite ends each of the bars 30 and 31 is provided with blocks 32 the outer ends of which project slightly beyond the outer ends of the bars 30 and 31 and are spaced to form notches as indicated at 33 which engage the guide strips or bars 18 to which reference has been made previously.

It will be seen that as the plunger to which the laterally spaced plates 21 are connected is moved back and forth it will be guided by the guide strips or bars 18. When the plunger occupies its lowermost position as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings the coal is discharged into the chamber between the lower or forward portions of the plates 21 and is deposited upon the lining 12 of the bottom 11 of the support for the plunger,directly in front of the plunger. lVhen, however, the plunger is moved into the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings it will be noted that the coal is deposited upon a. plate 35 which has been moved as a result of the upward discharging movement of the plunger into the position shown in said figure of the drawings.

To effect reciprocating movement of the plate 35 we have provided the plunger with two top plates 36 and 37 the inner edges of which are spaced from each other as shown at 38. The inner edges of said plates are bound and connected together by means of an overlying plate 40 connected at its opposite edges to narrow bars 41 secured to the said plates adjoining and in parallel relation to the inner edges thereof. The plate 35 is provided with a projection 43 at its upper or rear end which projects or extends between the inner edges ofthe plates 36 and 37. Upon upward or rearward movement of the plunger a block 16 thereon engages the block 43 upon the plate 35 and causes upward movement thereof into the position shown in Fig. 2. Upon a return downward or forward movement of the plunger the rear end of the latter contacts with blocks 47 adjacent the opposite edges of the lower end of the plate 35 and returns it to the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Further downward move ment is prevented by the cross-bar 18.

it will be seen that in the initial upward movement of the plunger to effect discharge of coal which may have been delivered in front thereof the top of the plunger comprising the plates 6 and 37 constitutes a cover upon which the coal is delivered, and that as the discharging movement of the plunger continues the plate 35 is moved into position to receive the coal as it is delivered from the chute 3. The coal which is lodged upon the plate 35 is delivered into the space between the plates 21 upon the return of the plunger to its lower'most position.

In order to effect reciprocating movements of the plunger we have provided upon the inner opposing sides of the channels 26 and 27 blocks 50 and 51, the former being located upon the upper channel bar and the latter upon the low r channel bar. The block 50 is located at the upper or rear end of the bar 2? while the block 51 is located a distance from the end of the channel 26. The locations of the blocks 50 and 51 upon the respective channel bars by which they are supported are shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

In order to provide means for alternately engaging the said blocks to effect reciprocat ing movements of the plunger and the parts connected therewith we have provided an endless chain 52 which is supported upon and driven by sprocket wheels 53 and 5 1 which in turn are supported upon rotatable shafts 55 and 56. The shaft 55 is supported in stationary bearings whereas the shaft 56 is supported in adjustable bearings indicated at 60, the said bearings being mounted in guideways 61. For the purpose of adjusting the said bearings we have provided screw bolts 62 which are adapted to be adjusted longitudinally. Its inner or front end has connection indirectly withthe saidbearings so that upon adjustment thereof longitudinally adjustment of thesaid bearings is effected to cause a corresponding adjustment of the sprocket wheel 54 to tighten or loosen the chain 52. The. said chain between the sprocket wheelsis guided by means of parallel spaced guide plates 65 supported upon cross bars 66 of angle shape which in turn are supported upon the side channel bars 20.

The guide-ways 61 by means of which the bearings 60 for the shaft 56 are supported are formed in brackets 70 supported upon the rear end portions 71 constitutinga part of the tank structure. A sprocket wheel 75 mounted upon one end of the shaft 56 which projects beyond its outer hearing, which sprocket wheel is adapted to be driven to drive the said shaft to thereby drive the sprocket chain 52. The chain 52 is driven in-the direction of the arrow '76 in Fig; 1. of the drawings. The chainisprovided with a lug which is adapted to engage alternately theblocks 50 and. 51 previously referredto. In Fig. 1 of the drawings'the projection80 is shown in engagement with the front or lower side of the block 50and as the chain is traveling in thedirection indicated by the arrow 76-it is apparent that the plunger will. be moved upwardly and. rearwardly toeifect a corresponding movement of anycoal which may have been dischargedintothe space between the plates 21 in front. thereof. Such upward movement continues during the period thatthe projection 80 is in contact with the block 50. lVhen the projection 80 is disengaged from the said block, as it is when the latter has arrived at a point adjoining the upper orrear end of the top portionzofthe chain 52, the upward. and rearward movement oflthe plunger ceases. The said plunger remains, however, in stationary position until the projection 80 engagestheblock 51 upon the-bottom channel 26,. The projectionjthen will be moving downwardly or toward the front of the apparatus, or to the left, having reference to, Figs. 1. and 2 of the drawings;

For the purpose of counterbalancing the weight of the plunger and the parts con- 'nected with and carried thereby we have pro videda weight 90 which is connected at the outer lower end of a wire rope 91 the opposite I end of which is connected to the upper rear end of the channel 26. The said rope passes over a pulley 92 supported in a bracket 93 asshown. For the purpose of guidlng thecoal as it is discharged from the chute 3 into the space in front of the plungerwhen it is in its lowermostposition as shown in Fig. l ofthe drawings, we have providedan upwardly and forwardly extending brace plate 96 which is located between the extensions of the side walls 7 and 8, the upper end of which plate terminates underneath and. inrear of the discharge end portion of the said chute.

Upon movement of the plunger to its uppermost position to effect discharge of coal which has been delivered in front thereofthe oppositely disposed parallel plates. 21 project or extend beyond the shaft 56 and it is for that reason that the slots 23 are provided in the said plates. The relation of the said slots to the shaft 56 is shown in.

continuous movement of the endless chain 52. Continuous movement of the said chain causes practically continuous reciprocating movements of the plunger. The said plunger-isstationary for short intervals of time atitsilowermost anduppermost positions,the length of the said intervals depending upon thev speedofmovement of the chain. F or instance, after the projection 80 is disengaged from the block 50 upon the underneath side of'the channel 27 the plunger remains stationary until the said projection travels aroundthe sprocket 53 and into engagement with the blockfil. is established the movementofthe plunger isthen begun in. a downward direction and continues until it arrives at its lowermost .position, when again it remains stationary while the projection SOtravels around the sprocket wheel 60 and into engagement with the block 50, after which upward movement of; the plungeris begun.

a The plunger and thesupporting-guide way therefor into which guide-way the coal is adapted to be discharged from the chute 3 are located near the chuteso thatthe distance through which the coal. must fall after it is discharged from the said chute is relatively short. does not acquire suflicientmomentum in its fall to strike thesheet metal bottom plate'12 or previously deposited portionsof coal with a force sufiicient to cause breakage thereof. Moreover, in. its movement upwardly by the plunger in the manner heretofore described, the coal" is handled, as it were, in a gentle manner so that breakage of small particles thereoffromlargerlumps is prevented. By this means worth-while economy is effected.

Even if thepercentage of saving per ton of coal handled should be small, the saving as a whole, in view of the large quantities of coal handled, wouldbelarge. Having thus described our invention, what weclaim and desire to secure by'Letters Pattentis: Y

' 1. In apparatus for removing coal from a jigging machine, the combination of a plunger,.a guide-way for the said plunger having an. open topthrough whichcoal is delivered from the jigging device of said machine into said guide-way in front of said plunger, means for causing reciprocating movements of said plunger, and. means independent of and actuated by'the said plunger for closing the open topof said guide-way when the said plunger is moved outwardly to cause discharge of coal, from-said, guide way.

2'. In apparatus for removing coal froma jigging machine, the combination of a plunger, a guide-way for the said plunger having an, open top to which coal; is delivered from the jigging device of said machine into said guide-way in front of said plunger, means independent of. and actuated by saidplunger for closing the open top of said guideway when the saidplunger is moved outwardly to cause discharge of coal from said guideway, said meansalsobeing adapted to. be ac- When such engagement In consequence of that fact the coal so i tuated by said plunger upon inward movement thereof, to open the open top of the said guideway, and means including an endless drive member for efiecting reciprocating movements of the said plunger.

3. In apparatus for removing coal from a jigging machine, the combination of a plungor having spaced bars extending rearwardly therefrom located one above the other and each of the said bars being provided with an inwardly extending projection, the said projections being located different distances from the rear ends of the said bars, a guide way for the said plunger, and means adapted to alternately engage the said projections to effect reciprocating movement of the said plun er.

4. In apparatus for removing coal from a jigging'machine, the combination of a plunger having plates extendingrearwardly therefrom, the said plates being spaced from each other and arranged in vertical planes, plates extending transversely of the first named plates and being secured to the top and bottom edges thereof near their rear ends, rearwardly extending bars secured to the said second named plates, said bars being located one above the other and in spaced relation to each other, and each of said plates having a projection upon the inner side thereof one of which is located at the rear end of the plate upon which it is supported, while the other of said projections is located a distance from the rear end of the plate on which it is located, and an endless continuously traveling member having means thereon for engaging the said projections to effect reciprocating movements of the said plunger.

5. In apparatus for removing coal from a jigging machine, the combination of a plunger provided with rearwardly extending spaced members and a continuously movable member located partly between the said rearwardly extending member and having means for alternately engaging the said members to effect reciprocating movements thereof and of the plunger to which they are connected. 7

6. In apparatus for removing coal from a. jigging machine, the combination of a plunger provided with spaced members which project rearwardly therefrom, the rear end portions of the said members when the said plunger is in its lowermost position being located upon opposite sides of a portion of a continuously moving plunger actuating means, the said means, the said members and the said actuating means being provided with means whereby the continuous movement of the said actuating means effects reciprocating movements of the said plunger.

7. In apparatus for removing coal from a jigging machine, the combination of a plunger, a guide-way for said plunger having an open top through which coal is adapt ed to be delivered from said washing apparatus, means for effecting reciprocating movements of the said plunger, and means independent of and actuated by the upward discharging movement of the said plunger to close the portion of the said guide-way through which the coal is adapted to be delivered thereinto.

8. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plunger, a guideway for said plunger having an opening in the top side thereof through which material is delivered to said guideway in front of said plunger, a plate for closing said opening, and means for providing a lost motion connection between said plunger and said plate whereby outward movement of said plunger to cause discharge of material from said guideway moves the said plate to closed position, and inward movement of the said plunger moves the said plate to open position.

9. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plunger, a guideway for said plunger having an opening formed in the top side thereof through which material is delivered to said guideway in front of said plunger, a plate adapted to close said opening, said plunger being provided with a longitudinally extending opening, a projection on said plate extending through said longitudinally extending opening, and means on said plunger for engaging said projection whereby outward movement of the said plunger for discharging material from said guideway moves the said plate to closed position.

10. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plunger provided with rearwardly extending spaced members, a guideway for said plunger having an opening formed in the top side thereof through which material is delivered to said guideway in front of said plunger, a plate adapted to close said opening, a continuously movable member located partly between the said rearwardly extending members and having means for alternately engaging the said members to effect reciprocating movements thereof, and means for connecting the said plunger to the said plate whereby outward movement of the plunger to discharge material from the said guideway moves the said plate to closed position.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention, we have hereunto signed our names this 12th day of November, 1927.

HENRY HOWELL ISRAEL. GEORGE TRUSSA. 

